Two-Tris
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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64'er 1994/11

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Review

by Kyle Knight

Tetris was a groundbreaking title that had a huge impact on the development of videogames. Tetris clones are a dime a dozen and range in quality from poor to being more enjoyable than the original, depending on the level of programming and the additions, if any, made to the gameplay system. Two-Tris is basically a second rate clone, though it does have its moments.

As the name implies, Two-Tris allows for two Tetris games to be played side by side. The idea isn't new, as many other variants have used the same approach, but Two-Tris doesn't make much of the concept. It somehow misses the most obvious aspect of game design with a simultaneous, two-player mode -- namely, allowing the computer to play against the human player.

It does include an odd team play mode where you and a friend can play one game at the same time with each of you controlling and dropping alternate blocks that fall from the top of the screen. If you think this is a worthy idea, it is. In practice, however, it's not as much fun as it sounds because, instead of playing a whole game, you're basically active only half the time.

There's also a two-player competitive mode but it barely qualifies as such since there is really no interaction between the two players. Thus, you might as well take turns playing in single-player mode and then compare scores.

Actual gameplay is a bit off as well. Two-Tris, for no discernible reason, has a problem generating truly random patterns of falling pieces. It's not unusual to see several instances of the same block being dropped three or four times consecutively in one game.

The controls are just a shade on the slow side in terms of responsiveness; it'll be half a second after you press a key or move the joystick before the game makes the appropriate move. At the beginning of the game, this isn't really a problem but, if you manage to get Two-Tris going fast, it'll be the source of some annoying missed drops.

Two-Tris partially compensates for its gameplay failures with slightly above average graphics and decidedly superior sound. The game gives you an interesting alien-looking backdrop to drop your pieces against, which is always nicer than staring into blackness. The game has no sound effects but you'll quickly forget about that as you listen to the music.

The song that plays with its opening credits is especially great and the game contains the kind of videogame music you may want to record and play back later to enjoy it more fully. It's a classical operatic song with a sense of epic proportion to it, something that would not have been out of place during the opening sequence of a big budget drama movie! The in-game songs aren't quite as good but are still enjoyable nonetheless.

Two-Tris faces off against some stiff competition, namely the original Tetris and all the other clones and comes up a bit short. It's really just an average game trying to emulate a great game. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one Tetris clone with you, Two-Tris would not be your choice.
